Modern Ducati, as well as the Super Sport can be traced back to April 1972 when Ducati won the Imola 200 (the European equivalent of the Daytona 200) with a for-production based 750 cc, desmodromic valve 90° V-twin engine developed by Fabio Taglioni.

The Super Sport prototypes used for the inaugural race were developed using a 750 GT based engine and frame and earned instant fame when legendary racer Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari finished first and second, respectively, immediately elevating Ducati from a company known for "quaintly individual" motorcycles and into the superbike market.

The frame was painted blue while the fiberglass gas tank, covers and top half of the fairing were silver.

The bike featured 10.5:1 compression ratio, a voluminous 6 gallon gas tank and a claimed weight of 333 lb (151 kg).

Unfortunately, the complicated bevel gear-driven camshaft made the bike uneconomical to produce, thus the 1974 model is the only round-case 90-degree v-twin with desmodromic valve gear.

Because the price of the 750 Super Sport was very similar to 900, very few 750s were produced with the majority of them being shipped to Australia, Germany or staying in Italy for racing applications.

By 1978 the bike looked identical, but several significant improvements had made their way into the motor making them more reliable and solving problems with engine cranks breaking.

Most notable was a majorly redesigned gear shifter that made the bike a lot easier for owners to live with.

The 1978 model bike is considered to be the finest iteration of the bevel drive square case Super Sports.

Cast Campagnolo wheels replaced the Borrani alloy rims and a Mike Hailwood Replica was made available in very limited numbers painted in lavish green and red schemes.

The new changes, specifically the black and gold paint and cast wheels were very successful at making an aging design look more modern.

Into the early 1980s the fuel tank became less angular and more rounded while the tail section was revised to look more modern with a duck-tail sweep.

Announced in 1988, the Ducati Supersport used a Pantah based 904 cc air-cooled 90° V-twin, two-valve "Desmodue" engine with crankcases derived from the 851 motor.

The resurrection was due largely to Ducati being bought out by Cagiva and the first reborn Supersport was released as a 750 Sport.

The 600SS was introduced in 1994 as a midrange competitor for a growing market, and to provide a cheap way to spread the Ducati range.

This model had carbon fiber fenders and clutch cover, sound damping material, adjustable Showa suspension, and an aluminum swingarm.

These included a vented clutch cover, fully floating cast-iron front disc brakes, and larger diameter exhaust silencers (from the 888 SP4).

Each model of the Superlight came with sought after performance improvements over the standard model Supersport (SS) such as carbon fibre front mudguard and rear hugger, solo seat unit, up-swept exhausts, upgraded cast iron brake discs and a numbered plaque on the top triple clamp, making them extremely desirable and collectable among enthusiasts and collectors alike.

Following on the from the success of the 1992 version, the Superlight specification was downgraded for 1993 which increased the weight of the bike (known as the Mk II).

The 1999 model was one of the first Ducatis designed by Pierre Terblanche and met with very limited success based on its controversial aesthetics.

A lower spec 750 Sport model was offered in 2001 and 2002, only in matte black, with a half fairing, and with a five-speed transmission rather than the six-speed unit on the Supersports.

From 2004 onwards Ducati reduced the level of chassis specification to that of the Sport (which was subsequently dropped from the range some time later).

The bike uses the 937 cc Testastretta motor (from the Hypermotard 939), but the power arrives lower in the rev range, and final drive gear ratios are longer.

The 2017 Supersport uses a trellis frame and some similarities in appearance to the Panigale, but configured as a "relaxed sport bike", with a much less radical riding position.

[6] Optional packages includes a "Sport Pack" (carbon front fender, carbon tank cover, and bespoke brake reservoir covers) or a "Touring Pack" (semi-rigid panniers, a touring windscreen, and heated grips).